Leicester Panthers

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Leicester Panthers
League BAFA National Leagues
Division NFC 1 Midlands
Team historyLeicester Panthers (1983–1996)
Leicester Falcons (2006–2023)
Leicester Panthers (2023–)
Location Leicester, Leicestershire
Stadium Leicester Forest East RFC
Managing directorRichard "Sweede" Swain
Head coachMitz Mistry
Division titles4: 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018
Playoff berths8: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

The Leicester Panthers are an American football team based in Leicester, England, that competes in the BAFA National Leagues Premier Division North, the top level of British American football. Their current home ground is at Aylestone Park F.C., having previously played at De Montfort Park and Leicester Forest RFC.

Contents

History

The original Leicester Panthers team were formed in 1983 and disbanded in 1996, and played home games at Saffron Lane sports centre. In the time they played, they recorded only one losing season, and won the league final in 1996, the year they dissolved the team. The club can boast Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton as their most famous alumnus, as he was the starting quarterback in the 1988 season. [1] [2]

A number of original players from the Leicester Panthers, including rugby star Martin Johnson, who had played for the team in the early 1990s, Barry Driver, Charles Thompson and Neil Eastoll, reformed in 2007 to play a charity match against the Loughborough Aces for the Matt Hampson Trust; the Panthers won 20–3. [3]

Following the dissolution of the Leicester Panthers, there was no American football team until the debut of the formation of the Leicester Falcons in 2008. [4] In the 2009 season playoffs, the Falcons beat Manchester Titans and Glasgow Tigers to reach their first championship game. [5] They won the BAFA Division 2 Championship in 2009, defeating the Colchester Gladiators 33-32. [4] [6]

The 2015 season saw the return of Guy Kersey and Head Coach Lester Hopewell, as well as a move to a new home ground, Leicester Road Stadium at De Montfort Park, Hinckley. [7] [8] The Falcons qualified for the playoffs with a 7–3–0 regular season record, before succumbing to a 21–6 defeat to the Sandwell Steelers. [9]

In April 2023, following the departure of general manager Guy Kersey, the Falcons rebranded as the Panthers. [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ex Leicester Panthers star Sean Peyton eyes Super Bowl glory, Leicester Mercury, thisisleicestershire.co.uk, 6 February 2010, archived from the original on 15 July 2010
  2. ↑ Saints' coach was a Bears QB ... briefly, ESPN Commentary, 19 January 2007
  3. ↑ Matt Hampson Bowl, BBC Where I Live Leicester, 25 May 2007
  4. 1 2 "Programme History". Leicester Panthers. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Drama as Leicester Falcons reach first final, Leicester Mercury, thisisleicestershire, 11 September 2009, archived from the original on 14 September 2009, retrieved 14 September 2009
  6. ↑ Falcons land dramatic victory in play-offs, Leicester Mercury, thisisleicestershire, 30 September 2009, archived from the original on 22 April 2010, retrieved 19 April 2010
  7. ↑ "Leicester Falcons News". Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Leicester Falcons News". Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "BAFANL Fixtures 2015 | Double Coverage". Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  10. ↑ https://sportank.com/media/post/leicester-falcons-rebrand-to-the-leicester-panthers
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